Toy.



.No.s46,5eo.. PATENTEDMAR. 12,1907.1

W.V.GILBBRT.

, TOY.

-APPLIOATION FILED mm. 1906.

2 8HEETSSHEET l.

- INVENTOH AUER v. GILBERT.

ATTORNEYS THE NORRIS-PETERS ca, wasnmamlv. nc.

PATENTED MAR. 12, l907-- T R E B I n W T w AL v APPLICATION FILED JUNE 5. 1906.

WALTER GILBERT 5r ATTORNEYS 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED OFFIOE.

TOY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 12, 1907.

Application filed June 5,1906. Serial No. 320,243.

T0 all whom it 771/(07/ concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER VILLA GIL- BERT, a subject ofthe King of Great Britain, in the city of London, England, have invented an Improved Toy, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is a toy constructed in such manner as to resemble a crab, frog, or other animal whose form lends itself to the purpose. Parts ordevices representing or simulating eyes and antennae are attached to the spring device composing the body, and upon compression of the lattersome or all of these are projected or caused to move in such manner as to produce a more or less grotesque effect. The legs or other articulated parts may also be secured to the body and various other attachments provided to increase the degree of resemblance to a living animal.

In carrying out my invention I make use of a flexible or spring. device, which forms the subject of my application for patent, Serial No. 316,047, filed. May 9, 1906. The said device is formed from a resilient plate or blank bent into such shape that by compression in opposing directions and then suddenly releasing it from such compression the device is caused to alternately project andretract the eyes or antennae. Upon re lease of compression the device will also rebound or react in such. manner as to appear to spring or jump, and this being accompanied also by retraction or return to the original position of certain movable parts the simulation to a living animal is rendered more complete.

The details of construction, arrangement, and operation of parts are as indicated in the accompanying drawings, in Which Figure l is a face or front view of my improved toy constructed in imitation of a crab or other like form of crustacean. Fig. 2 is a central transverse vertical section of the toy as illustrated in Fig, 1. Fig. 3 is a rear or back view of the same, a portion of the fabric which preferably covers the back being cut away. Fig. 4 is a plan view of a blank cut out of a plate of resi ient material and adapted when duly shaped to form the body of the crab represented in Figs. 1, 2, 3. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a primary form of the body or main portion of the crab form.

The invention forming the subject of my I aforesaid application, Serial No. 316,047, is

an elastic or resilient device formed from a blank of resilient material having preferably the form of an oblong rectangle. The blank or plate is folded crosswise, so as to form a bow, and the back of the bow is indented transversely and upon a straight line. The sides or wings projecting from such back lie practically parallel and are curved or concave on the inner side. The portions of the back lying on each side of the transverse indentation are flat and practically triangular in shape. By applying pressure to the ends or apices of such triangular portions the back is caused to bend. at the indentation, and the jaws or Wings are caused to move toward each other or close, and upon release of pressure they expand or open.

Referring in the first instance to Fig. 5, 1 and 2 indicate the upper and lower portions or jaws of the spring device forming the body of the crab or other animal represented, and 3 the bowed and indented back thereof. This primary form. is fully described and illustrated in my aforesaid application, Serial No. 316,047.

In Fig. 4 I illustrate a blank from which the body and certaim attachments-to wit,

eyes and antennaemay be producedthat is to say, the blank, together with projecting portions 4, bearing parts 5, which simulate eyes, and other projections 6, representing antennae, are stamped or cut out by means of a die from a thin plate of resilient material and then formed into a shape primarily represented in Fig. 5 and more nearly represented in Figs. 1, 2, 3. It may be converted into the required form or shape by means of specially-constructed tools or machinery, or

it may be effected manually. In order to conveniently shape the device manually, the blank is provided with insets at the center of each side and end, the insets being indicated by a a and b b. If now the blank be grasped by the thumb and finger of the left hand at a a, the first step is to bend and how it out- Wardly along the middle from b to 6. Then if with the other hand the blank be grasped at b bthat is to say, by the thumb and second finger of such hand and the forefinger thereof be pressed upon the central point cthen by simultaneously applying pressure at all five points the form indicated in Fig. 5 will be produced. In other words, as before indicated, the blank will have a bowed. form, with an indented back, which is the preferred shape.

In Fig. 4 the dotted lines, which represent a diamond-shaped figure, serve to indicate the lines of contour of the back of the device after forming the transverse indent or depression 3. WVhen the blank has thus been converted into the required general form, it is adapted to serve as the body of the crab or other animal to be represented. The upper portion or jawl is provided with diagonal slots 8 and 9 and through these the eyepieces 4 and the antenna: 6, respectively, project and are adapted to slide. (See especially Figs. 1 and 2.) The parts 4, carrying the representation of the eyes 5, are narrow strips of metal or other material, and they are arranged to cross each other, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and are connected so that their movement is limited by means of a pin 10, which passes through slots 11 in the respective parts 4. The portions 5, representing the eyes of the crab, may be painted on the parts 4 or formed in any other preferred manner. It is obvious that the parts 4 and antennae 6 are indicated as constructed integrally with the body of the blank but they may be separately constructed and attached by any suitable means. Being connected with the lower jaw 2, it is apparent that if the two jaws or parts 1 2 be forced toward each other the eyes 5 will be projected. farther from the top 1 and the antennae also converging in a manner to simulate more closely the corresponding parts of a living animal. Again, upon releasing the jaws or parts 1 2 they will spring apart, and thus the eye-carriers 4 and antennae 6 will lie retracted. Compression for producing these movements may be conveniently applied by the thumb.

and finger at the points I) b, as indicated in the blank, Fig. 4, or at the points 12. as indicated in Figs. 1, 2, 3. Such points are the apices or ends of the bowed and indented back of the spring device constituting the body of the toy crab and which may take the place of the shell of the living creature. In order further to increase the resemblance to a living animal, articulated parts 13, simulating legs, (see Figs. 1, 2, 3,) may be attached to or formed integral with the lower portion 2 of the spring-body.

I prefer to mask the interior of the toy crab, and this I effect by applying a thin fabric 14 (see Figs. 1, 2) in such manner that it extends around the ends and front, it being secured in any suitable manner to the edges of the upper and lower body members 1 2.

The back of the spring device or body may be cut out, as indicated at 15. (See dotted lines, Fig. 1, and full lines, Figs. 2 and 3.) This opening is masked, more or less, by means of a translucent fabric 16, which eX- tends over a portion or all of the opening. The fabric 16 is preferably colored red, and a peep-hole 14 (see Figs. 1 and 2) is provided in the front mask or covering 14. Upon looking through the opening 14 a red or other glow will be perceived by reason of the light penetrating through the corresponding colored mask or fabric 16, applied to the rear opening 15. The fabric 16 may be provided with arrow-shaped tongues 16, (see Figs. 1, 2,) the same being extended through slits in the back of the spring device or body-form and pasted down or otherwise secured eXte riorly. I likewise prefer to apply a thin fabric 17 over the back portion of the spring de vice or body-form, the same being pasted or otherwise secured at its edges.

I claim- 1. A toy simulating in appearance a crab or other living animal, the same comprising a body portion formed of a spring device bent or bowed to produce opposing upper and lower parts and attachments connected with the lower member and projecting through the upper one and, adapted to slide therethrough when the said parts are caused to approach and recede from each other by compression and release of compression, substantially as described.

2. A toy simulating a crab or other living animal comprising a body portion formed of a thin resilient blank bowed to produce opposing upper and lower parts corresponding to the similar parts of the animals body, one of such parts being provided with openings and the other having attachments representing movable parts of the living animal and which are adapted to slide in the aforesaid. openings and to project above the part provided with the latter, when the said parts are caused to approach each other the application of pressure, su stantially as descri? ed.

3. A figure toy comprising a lOClY portion formed of a thin resilient plate bowed to produce opposing upper and lower parts and having its l' owed ack indented transversely,

, one of the said parts being provided with openings and the other having attachments representing mova 'le meml'ers of the lody of a living animal and which are caused to slide through. the part provided with openings when pressure is applied to the ends or apices of the fowed indented back, substanti ally as described.

4. A figure-toy simulating a crab or other crustacean and comprising a l ody portion formed of a thin resilient plate which is bowed 'to produce upper and lower members which are opposed to each other and represent in the toy the upper and lower portions of the shell of the animal and attachments comprising devices which are connected with one of the opposing members and represent movable parts of the living crab or other animal.

the same being adapted to slide and project more or less when the opposing parts repre senting the shell are pressed toward each other and then released, substantially as described.

5. A figure toy comprising a body portion formed of a thin resilient plate which is bowed to produce opposing upper and lower parts, the upper part being provided with openings and devices representing antennae of the living animal, the same being attached to one of said parts and adapted to project and slide through the openings in the other when the said parts are caused to approach and recede from each other by compression and release thereof, substantially as described.

6. A figure toy comprising a body portion formed of a thin resilient plate which is bowed to produce opposing upper and lower parts, the upper part having openings and devices representing antennae of the living animal, the same being attached to the lower part and projecting through openings in the upper one, their upper ends projecting toward each other and being caused to approach more nearly when the body is compressed, substantially as described.

7. A figure toy comprising a body portion formed of a thin resilient blank which is bowed to produce opposing upper and lower members, representing the body of the animal, the upper member having openings and the lower member being provided with attachments representing antennae of the living animal, the same being curved and projecting through the openings in the upper part, so that when the body is compressed the antennae approach each other, substantially as described.

8. A figure toy simulating a crab or other crustacean comprising a body portion formed of a thin resilient blank which is bowed to produce opposing upper and lower parts representing the body of an animal, the upper part having openings and devices in the nature of bars or narrow strips which are attached to the lower part and project through openings in the upper one, their outer ends being constructed to simulate the eyes of a living animal which are projected more or less when the body of the device is compressed, substantially as described.

9. A figure toy comprising a body portion formed of a thin resilient plate bowed to produce opposing upper and lower parts representing the shell of a living animal, one of said parts being provided with openings and the other with attachments comprising bars or strips which are connected with the lower part and extend diagonally across each other and being adapted to slide in the openings in the upper part whereby they are projected diagonally when the body of the device is compressed, the outer ends of said bars or strips being constructed. to represent the eyes of the living animal, substantially as described.

10. A figure toy simulating a crab or other crustacean comprising a body portion formed of a thin resilient plate bowed to produce opposing upper and lower members representing the shell of the livinganimal, one oii' which is provided with openings and the other with attachments in the form of bars or strips which cross each other diagonally and project through the openings in the upper member and are constructed exteriorly to represent the movable members of the living animal, and means for connecting the two bars or strips at their intersection whereby their movement on each other is limited, substantially as described.

11. A figure toy comprising a body portion formed of a thin resilient plate which is bowed to produce opposing upper and lower parts representing the body of the living animal, the upper part being provided with openings and the lower part with attachments representing antennae and the eyes of a living animal, such attachments being projected through the openings in the upper part and thus adapted to slide therein when the bow of the device is alternately compressed and released, substantially as described.

12. A figure toy simulating a living animal comprising a body portion formed of a thin resilient plate which is bowed to produce opposing upper and lower parts that represent corresponding portions of the body of the living animal, the lower part being provided with pendent members corresponding to the legs or other movable membersof the body of a living animal, substantially as described.

13. A blank for a figure toy comprising a thin resilient plate having at one edge projecting members representing movable parts of the body of a living animal and provided in the opposing part with slots or openings adapted to receive such movable parts, substantially as described.

14. A blank for a figure toy comprising a thin resilient plate having its edges provided with insets at central opposing points, as and for the purpose specified.

15.. A figure toy comprising a body portion formed of a thin resilient plate which is bowed to produce opposing upper and lower parts vrepresenting the corresponding portions of the body of a living animal, a fabric being secured to the edges of said upper and lower parts and thus connecting the same and masking the interior of the body portion, substantially as described.

16. A figure toy comprising a body portion formed of a thin resilient plate which is bowed to produce opposing upper and lower parts representing corresponding portions of I an opening and a translucent piece extending the living animal, and a fabric applied to the I across said, opening and another maskingopposing edges of said parts and provided in piece applied to the opposing edges of the the front with an opening, the bowed back of body portion and provided in the front with 5 the poly portion being also provided Witha a sight-hole, substantially as described.

mas e o ening, as described.

17. A figure toy comprising a body por- WALTER VILLA GILBERT tion formed of a thin resilient plate which is Witnesses: bowed to produce opposing upper and lower SoLoN C. KEMoN,

[0 parts, the bowed back being provided with AMos W. HART. 

